  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 01/01/2015 To the public, Epics, and Reckoners alike, David Charleston is now Steelslayer, assassin of Steelheart, the High Epic who ruled Newcago. Having rid that city of its virulent overlord, the Reckoners have infiltrated Babylon Restored, formerly Manhattan, where their new target, High Epic Regalia, rules a flooded city inhabited by devil-may-care Babilarans. David, however, is becoming uneasy with the Reckoners’ goal of slaying Epics. If indeed the Epics’ fears are the keys to their weaknesses, as he speculates, perhaps they are not destined to destroy; perhaps they can learn to control themselves and their evil compulsions. His first target for salvation? His secret love, Megan, aka Firefight. But Prof is sure Megan is playing David in order to infiltrate the Reckoners’ base and so plans to destroy her in spite of David’s protests. This lacks the constant tension and edgy technology of Steelheart (2013), but this second in Sanderson’s Reckoners series concludes in true, violent, high-action Steelslayer style, promising not only more of the same in the still-to-come Calamity, but hinting of future romance as well.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Sanderson will receive the expected five-star treatment: a pre-pub school tour, major social media campaigns, a “scavenger hunt” tour, and much more. - Copyright 2015 Booklist. Bulletin for the Center... - 03/01/2015 Having killed a seemingly immortal Epic supervillain and freed the town from his despotic reign (in Steelheart, BCCB 1/14), David and his fellow Reckoners face a new challenge. Regalia, who rules Babylon Restored on the flooded ruins of Manhattan, has turned unexpectedly vicious, sending lesser Epics to attack David’s city of Newcago. Working with a whole new team in a mysterious new city, David and his mentor Prof must solve the puzzle behind Regalia’s change of heart and save Babylon Restored from destruction. Meanwhile, David is hoping to prove that some Epics might be redeemable, and he’s determined to start with Firefight, the girl who infiltrated the Reckoners only to betray them and break David’s heart. David’s plans to save the girl he loves may undermine Prof’s plot to destroy Regalia, though, and the divide between them may doom the Reckoners entirely. This intense sequel builds on the strengths of the initial volume, adding nuance and complexity alongside the action and intrigue. The imaginative recasting of superpowers as a corruptive force remains key, but the narrative broadens out the Epic lore, exploring their histories, weaknesses, and possible cause. Readers who enjoyed David’s impulsive antics and identified with his driving need to prove himself will be pleased to find him much the same young man at heart. The novel also allows him to mature, reflecting the story’s nuance in his shifting view of both the Epics and his own heroes. A startling twist near the end puts the future of both Epics and Reckoners in question and will have readers counting the days to the final volume. AM - Copyright 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. School Library Journal - 04/01/2015 Gr 7 Up—A nonstop, explosive sequel to Sanderson's epic series opener, Steelheart (2013). With Steelheart dead, David returns to the city to fight three seemingly indestructable Epics. With smart-aleck dialogue and humorous descriptions balancing the violent battle scenes, Sanderson manages to explore deeper themes and character development along with the blockbuster plotline. - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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